AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

May 2008

Notes from the Department Head  |  News & Announcements  |  Graduate Student Profile  |  Congratulations
Recent Grants  |  Calendar of Events  |  Animal Science Seminars  |  External Employment Opportunities

Spring and Blooming in Animal Science

Spring is a busy time in agriculture and it is no exception in the Department of Animal Science. Last week was graduation for CFANS and Animal Science proudly awarded degrees to 55 students. This was an excellent group of seniors, who like the seeds being sown in spring, will grow and flourish making great contributions to society and their chosen careers. We are sorry to see them leave as we have built strong teacher - advisor - student relationships and true friendships over the last 4 to 5 years.  However, the excitement for their new beginnings and knowing they have been well prepared to address the agricultural and food challenges of the future displaces our sadness in seeing them leave. We congratulate them and thank them for choosing the University of Minnesota. We wish them all the very best. And remember, you are never a stranger in the halls of your alma mater.

In the world of many birds and animals, spring is the time to grow the family. The same has happened in the Department with two new hires; one in meat science and the other in dairy nutrition. We eagerly look forward to two new faculty members, Ryan Cox and Noah Litherland, joining us.

Ryan Cox will be coming this fall as an assistant professor in value-added animal product processing and safety. Ryan will be involved in extension programs and research addressing animal product safety, HACCP training, and value-added product development relevant to the meat processing industries in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Ryan is currently finishing his doctorate at the University of Kentucky. He has extensive experience in enhancement of animal product quality, factors affecting grass vs. grain fed beef quality, and in teaching meat science.

Noah Litherland is the new hire in dairy nutrition.  Noah will be joining us late summer as an assistant professor with split responsibilities between extension and research. Noah has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois where his research focused on dry cow nutrition and metabolism. For the past 2 years, he has been at Oklahoma State University in an extension and teaching position. Noah will be a great addition to the Dairy Extension Team. Look for Noah and the Dairy Team to be very active this fall and winter bringing educational programs to the dairy industry.

We have been busy this spring enhancing our faculty and programs, and summer is not going to be any different. Two new projects in development and planning stages this summer are the conversion of the dairy at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) in Morris to half organic and half conventional, and the planning for new turkey research facilities to replace those currently at UMORE Park in Rosemount. Conversion of half the dairy at Morris to organic is a great opportunity to do research and development of best management practices related to organic dairying. This will be the first university dairy in the U.S. to have both conventional and organic dairy management being applied at the same facility. A programmatic focus for the dairy will be the production, harvesting, and management of forages with emphasis on improving quality. 

Another major activity for this summer will be to plan and design turkey research facilities for the future. Minnesota is the number one state in turkey production and our goal is to support our industry partners by having the number one research and education program related to turkey production. This will be a comprehensive planning process including faculty from Animal Science, CFANS, College of Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, and other representatives from the industry. While it will be a few years before facilities are built, planning has to start now.  This is a great opportunity and we are excited about planning an ultra modern, state-of-the-art facility to conduct research that meets the needs of an important and vital industry in Minnesota.

So I say good-bye for the summer as we take leave to attend these and other projects. The newsletter will return this September as we welcome new students and continuing students to campus with updates and, hopefully, announcements of a few other exciting things we are exploring. To all – Have a fun, enjoyable and safe summer.
  

Animal Science Extends Congratulations to Recent Grads

Congratulations to recent Animal Science graduates and best of luck in your future endeavors!

The Department of Animal Science graduated 46 students during the spring semester, along with 9 from fall semester, and another 9 are expected to graduate during the summer session. Five of the graduates will be attending Veterinary School in the fall.

The CFANS holds only one commencement ceremony each year in the spring. This year’s CFANS commencement ceremony was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, 2008 in Northrop Auditorium. 
  

It's A Picnic!

The Department of Animal Science will hold their annual picnic and awards ceremony on Thursday, June 19th outside the Livestock Pavilion on the St. Paul Campus.

Annual Department awards include Outstanding M.S. Student, Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Outstanding Service for a staff member, and Outstanding Graduate Faculty. 

Please contact Dana Souther at 612-624-7453 or south005@umn.edu for information about submitting an award nomination.

See you at the Picnic!
  

U of M Livestock Judging Team Is Back!

The Department of Animal Science at the U of M has had a rich history of fielding nationally recognized Livestock Judging Teams. The storied past of the Minnesota Livestock Judging Team and their accomplishments over the last thirty years have set the foundation for a new tradition of Livestock Judging at Minnesota.

Seven young Minnesota and Wisconsin natives have sacrificed weekends, weeknights, and vacation to represent Minnesota at six intercollegiate livestock judging contests this spring. Jackie Popowski (Jr., Animal Science, Ivanhoe, MN), Scott Franke (Soph., Animal Science, Dover, MN), Colby Lind (Sr., Agricultural Education, Rushford, MN), Valerie Ujazdowski (Soph., Animal Science, Winneconne, WI), Katie Church (Soph., Animal Science, Hastings, MN), John Boyum (Sr., Ag Industries and Marketing, Chatfield, MN), Kyle Compart (Sr., Animal Science, Nicollet, MN) were the Livestock Judging Team representing the U of M this spring. Kyle Rozeboom, Lecturer of Animal Science, coaches the team and Greg Harder of Mountain Lake, MN serves as assistant coach.

Having not fielded a team since 2004, the 2008 Minnesota Livestock Judging Team worked hard on putting Minnesota judging back into national prominence and reestablishing Minnesota as an elite judging program. The 2008 team recently completed a very successful spring season and one that should give them confidence going into the fall season. Already this year, the team earned Reserve Champions at the All-Eastern Livestock Judging Contest and the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic. In addition, they have placed in the top ten at all the contests they competed in while making the top five in four of those. 

 2008 Spring Results:

     Contests Competed In

• National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
• Sioux Empire Stock Show, Sioux Falls, SD
• Iowa Beef Expo, Des Moines, IA

• Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic, Kearney, NE
• Houston Livestock Show, Houston, TX
• All-Eastern Livestock Evaluation Contest, Lexington, KY

     Awards and Highlights

     Selected team highlights:

• 8th High Team Reasons - National Western Judging Contest
• 7th High Team Beef - National Western Judging Contest
• 6th High Team Swine - National Western Judging Contest
• 8th High Team Overall - National Western Judging Contest
• 3rd High Team - National Western Carload Judging Contest
• 2nd High Team Reasons - Iowa Beef Expo
• 4th High Team Overall - Iowa Beef Expo
• High Team Placings - Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic
• Reserve High Team Overall - Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic

• 4th High Team Placings - Houston Stock Show
• 4th High Team Reasons - Houston Stock Show
• 5th High Team Swine - Houston Stock Show
• 6th High Team Goats - Houston Stock Show
• 6th High Team Overall - Houston Stock Show
• 3rd High Team Overall - All-Eastern Livestock Evaluation Contest
• 2nd High Team Oral Reasons - All-Eastern Livestock Judging Contest
• Reserve High Team Overall - All-Eastern Livestock Judging Contest
• 3rd High Team Overall - All-Eastern Livestock Selection Contest
• Reserve High Team Overall - All-Eastern Livestock Evaluation Combined Contest

     Selected individual highlights:

• Valerie Ujazdowski: High Individual Overal - Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic; High Individual Sheep - All-Eastern Livestock Judging Contest
• Scott Franke: 9th High Individual - Houston Stock Show; High Swine Individual - All-Eastern Evaluation Contest
• Katie Church: 3rd High Individual Reasons - Iowa Beef Expo; 3rd High Individual Swine - All-Eastern Evaluation Contest
• John Boyum: 3rd High Individual Placings - Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic; 10th High Individual Reasons - All-Eastern Livestock Contest
• Kyle Compart: 12th High Swine Individual - Houston Stock Show 
• Colby Lind: 2nd High Sheep Individual - All-Eastern Evaluation Contest; 10th High Individual Swine - Houston Stock Show
• Jackie Popowski: 6th High Individual Swine - All-Eastern Evaluation Contest; 17th High Individual - Iowa Beef Expo

The Judging Team is very proud of its accomplishments this spring and is excited about the upcoming fall campaign. The Judging Team will travel to the National Barrow Show, World Beef Expo, Mid-America Judging Contest, Premier Stockman, and American Royal. The team will use these contests as preparation for the National Livestock Judging Contest next November in Louisville, KY. 

The Judging Team would like to take this opportunity to thank Animal Science Department Head Jim Linn, and the Animal Science faculty and staff who have supported and assisted team members during the spring.

The team would personally like to thank Greg Harder for all his help and assistance throughout the spring and they look forward to his continued support this fall. 

Finally, the team would especially like to thank those that have supported the livestock judging program either monetarily or by allowing the Judging Team to visit and practice at their place.  Past team members and alumni are the strongest assets to the Department of Animal Science and we sincerely appreciate your support of the Livestock Judging Program. The U of M Livestock Judging Program is proud of our past and the progress we are making toward the future.

2008 U of M Livestock Judging Team:

Above (L-R): Jackie Popowski, John Boyum, Colby Lind, Kyle Compart, Scott Franke,
Katie Church, Valerie Ujazdowski, Kyle Rozeboom (Coach).
  

Golden Gopher to Become an Editor of Hoard's Dairyman

Lana Olson, graduating senior in Animal Science, will begin work in late May as a new Associate Editor of Hoard's Dairyman, based in Fort Atkinson, WI. The popular dairy magazine editorially is produced by an Editor and two Associate Editors, and Lana will join that leadership team. Lana is the immediate past President of the Gopher Dairy Club.

Furthermore, each summer, Hoard's Dairyman selects a summer intern from applicants at agricultural universities. For 2008, that intern is Lucas Sjostrom, a junior in Animal Science at the U of M. Lucas currently serves as Vice President of the Gopher Dairy Club. Therefore, two more Gophers will be active in Badger country this summer!
   

National Cattlemen's Association Awards $10,000 to Beef Team

U of M Beef Team Participates in Live Cattle and Ag Trade With Russia
Source: Lori Schott, Regional Extension Educator, Mora

For the past 18 months, the U of M Beef Team has been working with a group of Russian investors looking to the U.S. to rebuild Russia’s cattle industry. Last November, members of the U of M Beef Team hosted a private Russian delegation on a week long tour of agricultural enterprises in Minnesota and the Midwest. Last March, U of M Beef Team member, Lori Schott and Vladimer Gribovsky of Waconia, MN were invited to travel to Russia to meet with Russian agricultural officials and investors to tour potential cattle producing regions and discuss potential trade opportunities. Meetings also occurred with the American Embassy in Moscow to discuss supporting Russia’s livestock infrastructure.  

On May 9th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the U.S. can begin exporting to Russia breeding cattle, bovine embryos, breeding, fattening and slaughter swine, and breeding and sport horses. This decision officially opens up a new market for U.S. livestock producers as Russia looks to the U.S. to help establish a significant livestock market.

As a result of these enhanced relationships with the U of M, Russian investors have made their first purchase of U.S. Angus cattle targeted for shipment in August of 2008. To date, this is the first known purchase of live cattle in the U.S. by Russian investors. Russia is looking to the U of M to enhance trading opportunities and relations that will continue to aid in the development of Russia’s $300 million market for live animal imports.
  

Summary of Current U of M Beef Team Projects

The U of M Beef Team has been involved in the following research projects. If you'd like more information about these projects, please contact Alfredo DiCostanzo at 612-624-1272 or dicos001@umn.edu.

Impact of distillers’ grains and glycerin on cattle fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7.
PIs: Alfredo DiCostanzo; Co-PIs: Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, Grant C. Crawford
Department of Energy: $169,475

The specific objectives of this proposal are to:

1. Determine the effects of feeding DGS on the ECO157 fecal shedding and colonization of artificially inoculated calves.
2. Assess the impact of feeding a high-moisture corn:dry rolled corn (HMC:DRC) combination, steam flaked corn (SFC) and glycerin in the presence or absence of DGS on the fecal shedding and colonization of artificially inoculated calves.
3. Determine the effects of feeding DGS on the ECO157 prevalence in naturally infected beef cattle.
4. Assess the impact of feeding high-moisture corn (HMC), dry rolled corn and glycerin combined with DGS on ECO157.

Use of manganese oxide to attenuate negative effects of high sulfur concentrations in distillers grains
PIs: Alfredo DiCostanzo, Grant C. Crawford, G. Clifford Lamb (University of Florida)
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and Minnesota Corn Growers: $114,954

Objectives:

1. Determine whether manganese oxide, fed at recommended levels, impacts extent of hydrogen sulfide release from DGS during fermentation in batch cultures in vitro.
2. Define the appropriate concentration of manganese oxide required to oxidize excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide resulting from feeding more than 50% DGS feedlot diets (up to 0.65% dietary S) in rumen-cannulated cattle.
3. Determine whether feeding manganese oxide enhances immune response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in steers exposed or not to high S concentrations from DGS in feed.
4. Test effect of manganese oxide as supplements in feedlot diets containing more than 50% DGS on health, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics.

Effects of Diamond V Mills Yeast Culture on nitrogen and mineral whole body retention and feedlot performance of steers fed high-sulfur distillers grains-based diets
PI:  Grant C. Crawford and Alfredo DiCostanzo
Diamond V Mills Research Program: $59,444

Objectives:

1. Determine whether S source (organic, distillers grains, or inorganic, ammonium sulfate) impacts extent of S release during fermentation in vitro.
2. Study effects of S source and Diamond V Mills Yeast Culture on energy, N, and mineral retention of steers fed high-grain diets.
3. Determine whether feeding Diamond V Mills Yeast Culture enhances immune response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in steers exposed or not to high S concentrations in feed.
4. Determine effects of S source and Diamond V Mills Yeast Culture on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of steers fed high-grain diets.  

CDEs at State FFA Convention

The 79th Annual Minnesota State FFA Convention was held April 27-29, 2008. Many students participated in Career Development Events (CDEs), which were held on the U of M St. Paul Campus. CDEs help FFA members develop career skills.

Animal Science faculty that served as CDE chairs included: Jacqueline Jacob (Poultry), Tony Seykora (Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Handling), Kyle Rozeboom (Livestock Evaluation), Pete Nelson (Meats Evaluation), and Marshall Stern (Small Animals). Many Animal Science students also assisted with the CDEs by serving as student chairs or by helping before, during and after contests. 

See the results of the 2008 FFA CDEs online at:  https://webapps.cfans.umn.edu/FFA/CDE/Web/CDEResults.htm.

The Block and Bridle Club held their annual BBQ during convention as well, serving many hungry FFA participants. 
    

Meats CDE a Success

The Andrew Boss Lab for Meat Science (ABLMS) was host to 33 teams of 4 students each for the Meats Evaluation CDE on Monday, April 28th. The students evaluated carcasses of beef and pork in the coolers of ABLMS for quality grade as well as for yield grade. The contestants also had to identify primal/wholesale cuts of the different species as well as identifying several dozen retail meat cuts of lamb, pork, and beef. 

Contestants were required to make their evaluations without handling any of the carcasses or any of the cuts of meat. They were not allowed to use any aids in reaching their decisions and, as you might expect, contestants had to come prepared to spend some time inside the large meat carcass coolers of the ABLMS.

Meat Lab Supervisor Pete Nelson said, "I wish to extend my most sincere thanks to my Senior Lab Technician, Mike Aggen, and to former Lab Supervisor, Dave Plath, for all of the extra hours and the work they personally put into making this year’s annual event such a smooth success."

Below are photos from the Meats Evaluation CDE (click on photo to enlarge):

AQ Team Placed 9th at Midwest Regional Contest

The U of M Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon (AQ) Team placed 9th at the regional contest held during the American Dairy Science Association/American Society of Animal Science (ADSA/ASAS) Midwest Meetings in Des Moines, IA, March 16th and 17th. 

Team members from the U of M were Jason Ertl (freshman), Lucian McBeth (sophomore), Matthew Pearson (freshman), and Amanda Rasmussen (junior).

There are four parts to the quadrathon: lab practicum, written exam, oral presentation, and quiz bowl. The U of M team placed 4th in the oral presentation.

In addition to participating in the AQ competition, team members attended presentations of scientific papers at the ADSA/ASAS Midwest Meetings.

Photo at right (L-R): Amanda Rasmussen, Lucian McBeth, Jason Ertl, Matthew Pearson.
  

Intro Animal Science Showmanship Contest and Awards Program

Over 100 students from AnSc 1101-Introductory Animal Science showed their calves from 4:40 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 24th during the annual hog roast at the Livestock Pavilion. About 350 students, faculty, and friends of the students enjoyed the hog roast.

Receiving ASAS scholarship certificates based on academics and leadership were: Bradley Durow, Adam Husfeld, Brett Boyum, Amber Hazel, Kelsey Kunce, Lucian McBeth, Evan Van Beusekom, Kelsey Ness, Valerie Ujazdowski, and Amanda Rasmussen.  

  Above: Showmanship participants.
  

State FFA Elects Animal Science Students

Katie Zenk is the newly elected Vice President of Minnesota State FFA. Katie is an incoming freshman in the Department of Animal Science - Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary Medicine with an interest in Poultry. 

Current CFANS student Caitlin Kasper was elected Secretary, and incoming freshman Sydney Place was elected Reporter. 
 

Animal Science Students Elected to Student Board

Four of nine newly elected executive members of the CFANS Student Board are from the Department of Animal Science. They are: Katie Jones, Secretary; Lucien McBeth, MSA Representative; Charlie Schiller, Junior Class Representative;
Brianne Heder, Sophomore Class Representative.

Also newly elected to the executive student board are Megan Hines, President; Stella Collier, Vice President;
Kevin Anderson, Treasurer; Alida Sorenson, MSA Student Senator; Mollie Thompson, Senior Class Representative.

The CFANS Student Board works directly with faculty and staff of the CFANS to create open communication across all levels of the college. The full board of representatives meets five times each semester to plan upcoming college events such as the Fall Semester CFANS Barbeque, CFANS Week, Senior Salute, and Commencement.
  

Stevens County Does Well in State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl

The Minnesota State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl was held April 19th in Foley, MN. Eight teams in both the Junior and Senior divisions competed to test their knowledge of beef, sheep, and swine production. Each team qualified to compete by placing in the top 3 or 4 at their respective regional contests. 

Redwood County won the Junior Division with Stevens County placing 6th. In the Senior Division, Stevens County placed first for a second consecutive year.

Members of the Stevens County Senior Team included Justin Johnston, Tyler Evink, Jeff Knobloch, Carter Smith, and Shauna Kill. 

Justin Johnston and Tyler Evink will attend the U of M this coming fall to major in Animal Science. The Stevens County teams were coached by Dr. Lee Johnston (West Central ROC) and Jon Moser.
  

MN 4-H Livestock Judging Camp

The Minnesota 4-H Livestock Judging Camp is for livestock judging enthusiasts in the 6th through 12th grade. The 3-day camp will teach participants the basic fundamentals of livestock judging evaluation and include one-on-one mentoring by members of the 2007-2008 award-winning U of M Livestock Judging Team. The camp is designed for youth who would like to enhance livestock evaluation and selection skills, improve oral reasons skills, increase confidence, and become more competitive at competitions.

The camp, directed by U of M Livestock Judging Team Coach Kyle Rozeboom, will be held June 25-27 on the U of M St. Paul Campus.

The camp fee is $100. Applications and fees are due by June 1, 2008. For additional information, please contact Karen Nelson of the Center for 4-H Youth Development at 1-800-444-4238 Ext 222 or nelso367@umn.edu.  
  

Save the Date!

The 69th Minnesota Nutrition Conference will be held September 16 & 17, 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Owatonna, Minnesota (a new location from last year). The Minnesota Nutrition Conference is a two-day technical conference designed to bring the latest information regarding nutrition of beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, and swine to feed industry professionals. The latest concepts in animal nutrition will be presented at the conference.

This year, the registration fee has been reduced to $195 if registered before September 1, 2008 ($230 after September 1), and the fee for students who are not associated with the Department of Animal Science at the U of M will be $100. A copy of the conference proceedings, two lunches and all breaks are covered in the registration fee.

The Conference agenda will be finalized in the next few weeks. We expect online registration to be open by July 1st. Note: Department of Animal Science faculty and students will need to register through Bonnie Rae (612-624-4995 or bjrae@umn.edu).

Please visit the Conference website at http://www.ansci.umn.edu/mnc.html for more information as it becomes available. 

The Minnesota Nutrition Conference is sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Department of Animal Science and University of Minnesota Extension.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lee Johnston (320-589-1711) or John Goihl (800-322-0437).
   

White to Travel to Italy With Students

Dr. Mike White will again lead students of AnSc 4099 on a Global Seminar to study Sustainable Food Systems of Italy. The class is full and will depart on May 21st for Florence, Italy.

Their itinerary includes field trips and excursions, and a guided tour of the San Lorenzo Fresh Food Market. They will explore Italian culture through food, learn about the environmental impact of food production, and discover how the food systems of Italy have maintained their unique character of high quality and sustainability.

Coursework will include classroom discussions and group projects. Student groups will be responsible for the class discussions and will present project research to the class. They will keep daily journals, and groups will develop a final term paper based on their research, excursions, and experiences during their 3-week stay in Italy.

Sustainable Food Systems of Italy is a short-term study abroad program through the U of M Learning Abroad Center. For more information about the Learning Abroad Center’s programs, visit their website at http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/index.html.
  

Swine Center Website Receives Makeover

The U of M Swine Center has redesigned their entire website. The new site provides an Expertise Directory with easy access to contact information for members of the Swine Center according to their area of expertise.

The new Swine Center website also provides useful links to online resources including U of M Swine Extension, Swine Disease Eradication Center, DDGS, and Manure Management websites. Links to other valuable industry websites also populate the site.

Take a moment to check out the new U of M Swine Center website at http://www.academic-server.cvm.umn.edu/swine/Index.htm.
 

Share Your Outdoor Recipes

U of M faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to submit their favorite outdoor cooking recipes to the Recreation and Resource Management (RRM) Club. RRM is developing an outdoor and backcountry cookbook filled with various recipes submitted by people from across the University. Once enough recipes have been collected, the club plans to sell the cookbook.

Recipe authors whose submissions are chosen will receive a discount on the purchase price of the completed cookbook, which the Club plans to make available in the fall. Recipe submissions are due by Friday, May 30th. Multiple submissions are welcome!

If you have a recipe that can be easily prepared at camp or on the trail, please email it to the RRM Project Leader, Brianne Heder (hede0027@umn.edu), or Club President, Stella Collier (colli552@umn.edu), or mail to:

RRM Club
115 Green Hall
1530 Cleveland Avenue N.
St. Paul, MN  55108
  

Phishing Email

Phishing emails, such as the those you may have received recently pretending to be from the University, are messages that try to trick you into giving up personal information in emails or on phony websites.

REMEMBER: No legitimate institution, such as the U of M, your bank, or the IRS, will ever ask you to embed personal information in emails. Do not follow links in emails that claim to point to these institutions; always type in the web address yourself to the institution you want to visit.

As always, don't hesitate to contact Faraz Shaukat if you have any questions or concerns, or send an email to the CFANS helpdesk at cfans.help@umn.edu.
   

Our Condolences

U of M Regents Professor Emeritus G. Edward Schuh died at the age of 77 on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2008 from complications following heart surgery on May 1. When he died, Ed was surrounded by his wife, Ignez, and their three daughters, Audrey, Susan, and Tanya.

Ed made truly significant professional contributions through his work on trade, foreign exchange rates and international financial markets in an open world economy, poverty and food security, agricultural policy, and science and technology policy. Most recently, Ed was named a 2008 recipient of the U of M Presidents Award for Outstanding Service for providing exceptional service to the University community.

Ed was a mentor for countless graduate students from around the world, and he was a trusted friend to colleagues everywhere he had traveled.

The funeral was held on Friday, May 9 at St. Jerome’s Church in Maplewood, MN.
 

The next Graduate Student Profile is expected to appear in September.
  

Dr. Brian Buhr has accepted the position of Head of the Department of Applied Economics effective July 1, 2008. Dr. Buhr has been a member of the Applied Economics faculty for nearly 16 years and maintains the E. Fred Koller Endowed Chair in Management Information Systems.

Brad Heins and wife Joni had a great Mother's Day gift of a baby daughter born May 11, 2008. Ahna Beata Heins weighed 7 lb, 11 oz and was 20.5 inches in length at birth. Ahna is Brad and Joni's second child.

Dr. Gary Reineccius became the new Head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition effective April 14, 2008. Dr. Reineccius has been a member of the Food Science faculty for 37 years with a publishing record of over 200 research papers. 

Since mid-April, Abby Udermann has been working as a student office assistant in the Department’s main office. She is currently a freshman in Animal Science. Abby will be leaving us for the summer but we expect she’ll be returning in the fall.

Barry Visser and wife Shannon welcomed a baby girl, Hannah Marie Visser, into their family at 1:01 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008. At 8 lb, 8 oz and 20”, Hannah is the third Visser child. Barry received his M.S. from the University with Jim Linn serving as his advisor. 

Former Animal Science Graduate Program Coordinator, Jennifer Welsh, is on the road to motherhood. Her first baby is due in the fall.
  

Dr. Gerald C Shurson (PI), Department of Animal Science. Award: $85,422. Sponsor: National Pork Board. Title: Assessment of the effects of diets containing DDGS with supplemental tallow on fat digestibility, growth performance, carcass and fat quality in growing-finishing pigs. Period: 05/01/2008 - 05/01/2009.

Ryon Walker (PI), Assistant Extension Professor, UMN Extension Regional Center, Andover. Sponsor: Minnesota Department of Agriculture-Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program. Awarded $24,960.00 for three years (2008-2010). Project title: Methods to establish grazing of annual forages for beef cows on winter feeding areas.

Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES)/College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Graduate Research Assistant Award. The assistantship is awarded for full time study on research in "Alternative and pasture based livestock operations" during academic years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Advisors: Dr. Alfredo DiCostanzo and Ryon Walker. The recipient is Jolene Kelzer, M.S. (University of Nebraska) admitted for fall 2008. The 2-year stipend is $65,000.
 

- May 2008 -

4 - 2008 CFANS Senior Salute on the St. Croix River (5:00-8:00 p.m.). For more information, contact Todd Selvik or Darren Lochner. Register online.

6 - PorkCast "Introduction to Farm Estate Planning and Transfer. Webcast program via the Internet (1:00 p.m.). For more information contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

7 - SowBridge "Proper Handling of Sows". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.). For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

11 - CFANS Commencement Ceremony (2:00-4:00 p.m.), Northrop Auditorium, U of M Minneapolis Campus.

17 - End of Spring Semester.

20-22 - Minnesota Dairy Health Conference, Continuing Education and Conference Center, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Veterinary Continuing Education, 612-624-3434.

26 - Memorial Day holiday - the U of M Twin Cities is closed.

27 - May Session begins.

29 - PorkBridge "Large Group Pens and AutoSort Technology". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.). For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

- June 2008 -

4 - SowBridge "Reducing Pre-Wean Mortality". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.). For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

11-12 - 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, Grand Harbor Conference Center, Dubuque, IA. Contact: Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093.

16 - Summer Session begins.

19 - Annual Animal Science Picnic and Awards Ceremony, Livestock Pavilion, U of M St. Paul Campus. For more information, contact Dana Souther, 612-624-7453.

25-27 - MN 4-H Livestock Judging Camp, U of M St. Paul Campus. For more information, contact Karen Nelson, 1-800-444-4238 Ext 222. Applications are due June 1, 2008.

- July 2008 -

2 - SowBridge "Feeding Management in Lactation". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.). For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

4 - Independence Day holiday - the U of M Twin Cities is closed.

12-14 - 5th Annual Gopher Dairy Camp, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Brad Heins, 612-625-9294.

31-Aug 1 - Swine Breeding and Gestation Training Course, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN. For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

- August 2008 -

1-2 - GrazeFest Minnesota, Verndale, MN. Contact: Anne Borgendale, Sustainable Farming Association of MN, 320-226-6318.

6 - SowBridge "Managing Gilts for Productivity and Longevity". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.) For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

7 - PorkBridge "Properly Walking Pens and Observing Pigs". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.) For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

8 - Swine Farrowing Training Course (presented in Spanish), St. James, MN. For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

22-Sep 1 - Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN.

- September 2008 -

1 - Labor Day holiday - the U of M Twin Cities is closed.

2 - Fall Semester begins.

3 - SowBridge "Preventative Maintenance of Equipment". Remote program via phone and computer (noon and 7:00 p.m.) For more information, contact Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

16-17 - 69th Minnesota Nutrition Conference - New Location! Holiday Inn, Owatonna, MN. For more information, contact Lee Johnston (320-589-1711) or John Goihl (800-322-0437).

20-23 - Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Veterinary Continuing Education, 612-624-3434.